The Annenberg Foundation has plans that will destroy the Ballona Wetlands ecosystem - more than 600 acres of land on the coast of Los Angeles that were already saved once from a massive development proposal.
Now, Annenberg has joined with three state agencies and the US Army Corps of Engineers to support a plan that would construct a domestic animal facility on land protected for wildlife habitat, bulldoze away fragile habitat that is home for endangered birds and imperiled wildflowers and remove the Ballona Creek levees which allow for bicycle recreation, walking and rowing - as well as wildlife habitat and flood & water quality protections.
We - the citizens who worked for decades to protect this land - and those who support and applaud that effort - want the government agencies who are charged with protection of public lands for wildilfe protection and outdoor recreation to do their jobs with the greater good in mind, not the money that is being offered by the Annenbergs as a quid pro quo for building something that would never normally be allowed on a California Ecological Reserve.
Dear Wallis Annenberg and OUR elected officials:
Please re-think your plans for the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve and STOP the project you have planned there from moving forward in whatever way you can.
Find another location off-site for the Annenberg facilities, and work with THE COMMUNITY, including Ballona Institute, Ballona Wetlands Land Trust, Sierra Club, Grassroots Coalition, Wetlands Defense Fund, Urban Wildlands Group, Ballona Ecosystem Education Project, League of Humane Voters, The Surfers Coalition, In Defense of Animals, Last Chance for Animals and others who have long been stakeholders and protectors of this land to employ a GENUINE restoration that involved community engagement in the broadest manner AND is underscored by the maxim: "First Do No Harm."
Stop all funding for planning or implementing bulldozers, dredging machines and other heavy equipment from destroying habitat - home & food - for imperiled and rare species. The Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve is a fragile ecosystem.
Thank you for your considering your legacy.
Update #39 years ago
The Annenberg Foundation now has created and own a website that the California State Dept. of Fish & Wildlife claims as their own - full of lies, misstatements and misrepresentations. The worst parts of a public/private partnership. NOT in the interest of the public!
Plenty of pastel. Gobs of greenwashing. Don't believe it - but check it out: ballonarestoration.org
At the same time, ask ALL of your friends, family and neighbors to sign this petition.
Update #210 years ago
A legal case is proceeding to force the CA Dept. of Fish & Wildlife - to provide documents related to this plan that are being withheld from the public, in violation of the California Public Records Act. CDFW tried to get the case thrown out; the Judge denied that & the case will proceed. This is one of the problems with these "public/private partnerships." Public land is owned by the public and all transactions need to be transparent to the public.
Update #110 years ago
Thank you for signing our petition to protect the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve from a plan to bulldoze a fragile ecosystem, harm imperiled species via fake "restoration,” and build a 46,000 sq. ft. development where wildlife now live. Will you post the petition link to Facebook and send emails to friends so we can reach 1,000 signatures? Decision-makers must see how many care about this special place that is a crucial link on the Pacific migratory flyway.
